Electronic shipment planner

ABSTRACT

An electronic shipment planner is adapted for electronically presenting shipment and scheduling information to a user. The shipment and scheduling information includes at least one shipment event date. The shipment planner is linked to a shipment data repository containing shipment and scheduling information. A system interface communicates with the shipment data repository. An interactive shipment data link is electronically associated with the shipment and scheduling information, and cooperates with the system interface as commanded by the user to access and retrieve the associated shipment and scheduling information contained in the shipment data repository. A calendar display interface displays the shipment planner to the user in a calendar format, such that the interactive shipment data link is provided on the shipment event date associated with the shipment and scheduling information.

This patent application claims priority based on U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/174,887 filed on Jan. 7, 2000.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This invention relates to an interactive electronic shipment planner.The invention is a computer based application that enables efficientmanagement and tracking of shipments using a convenient and easy to readcalendar interface. The invention can be accessed globally via theInternet at anytime using standard computer hardware, software, andcommunications equipment. The invention is further applicable forpersonal events scheduling. Moreover, the calendar display format of theshipment planner can be readily customized to suit the needs of theuser. Unlike traditional planners, the present invention effectselectronic filtering of information contained in a data repository todisplay only a select portion of the information to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide an electronicshipment planner which provides ready and convenient management andtracking of shipments.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic shipmentplanner which provides shipment data in an easy to read, interactivecalendar format.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic shipmentplanner which can be accessed globally via the Internet.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic shipmentplanner which utilizes standard compute hardware, software, andcommunications equipment.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic shipmentplanner which is applicable for personal events scheduling.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic shipmentplanner which electronically filters information contained in a datarepository using customized electronic user reports to display only aselect portion of the information to the user.

It is another object of the invention to provide an electronic shipmentplanner which promotes time and cost efficiency in the shipmentindustry.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in thepreferred embodiments disclosed below by providing an electronicshipment planner adapted for electronically presenting shipment andscheduling information to a user. The shipment and schedulinginformation includes at least one shipment event date. The shipmentplanner is linked to a shipment data repository containing shipment andscheduling information. A system interface communicates with theshipment data repository. An interactive shipment data link iselectronically associated with the shipment and scheduling information,and cooperates with the system interface as commanded by the user toaccess and retrieve the associated shipment and scheduling informationcontained in the shipment data repository. A calendar display interfacedisplays the shipment planner to the user in a calendar format, suchthat the interactive shipment data link is provided on the shipmentevent date associated with the shipment and scheduling information.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, shipmentdata input means communicates with the shipment data repository forloading shipment and scheduling information into the shipment datarepository.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, thesystem interface is a Web browser, such as “Netscape Navigator” or“Microsoft Explorer”.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, theshipment data link is a predetermined portion of the shipment andscheduling information.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, theshipment data link is a shipment reference code.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, theshipment reference code is selected from the group consisting of a billof lading number and a purchase order number.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, theplurality of interactive shipment data links are electronicallyassociated with at least one of an inbound shipment, an outboundshipment, and a third party shipment.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, theplurality of interactive shipment data links are color-coded to readilydistinguish between inbound, outbound, and third party shipments.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a legendis provided for indicating the color-code for each inbound shipment,outbound shipment, and third party shipment.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, adisplay options data repository contains format parameters forcustomizing the format of the calendar display interface.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, adisplay options data interface communicates with the display optionsdata repository for setting desired format parameters contained in thedisplay options data repository.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, an inputdevice selects the interactive shipment data link from the calendardisplay interface.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, theinput device is a computer mouse.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, a reportdata repository contains profile parameters for displaying the shipmentand scheduling information in a customized user report.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, reportdata interface communicating with the report data repository for settingdesired profile parameters contained in the report data repository.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, apersonal event data repository contains personal event information ofthe user. The personal event information is associated with a personalevent date.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, apersonal event data interface communicates with the personal event datarepository for loading personal event information into the personalevent data repository.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, aninteractive personal event data link is electronically associated withthe personal event information, and cooperates with the system interfaceas commanded by the user to access and retrieve the associated personalevent information contained in the personal event data repository.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, thepersonal event data link is a predetermined portion of the personalevent information.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, thepersonal event data link is a title of the personal event information.

In another embodiment, the invention is an electronic shipment planneradapted for electronically presenting shipment and schedulinginformation to a user. The shipment and scheduling information includesat least one shipment event date. The shipment planner is linked to ashipment data repository containing shipment and scheduling information.A system interface communicates with the shipment data repository. Aninteractive shipment data link is electronically associated with theshipment and scheduling information, and cooperates with the systeminterface as commanded by the user to access and retrieve the associatedshipment and scheduling information contained in the shipment datarepository. A personal event data repository contains personal eventinformation of the user. The personal event information, is associatedwith a personal event date. An interactive personal event data link iselectronically associated with the personal event information of theuser, and cooperates with the system interface as commanded by the userto access and retrieve the associated personal event informationcontained in the personal event data repository. A calendar displayinterface displays the shipment planner to the user in a calendarformat, such that the interactive shipment data link and the interactivepersonal event data link are provided on their respective shipment andpersonal event dates associated with the shipment and schedulinginformation and the personal events information. The shipment data linkand the personal event data link are color-coded to readily distinguishbetween the associated shipment and scheduling information and thepersonal events information. A legend indicates the color-code for eachof the shipment data and personal event data links.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is a method for electronicallypresenting shipment and scheduling information to a user. The shipmentand scheduling information includes at least one shipment event date.The method includes the step of creating a shipment data repositorycontaining shipment and scheduling information. A system interface isthen provided to communicate with the shipment data repository. Aninteractive shipment data link is then electronically associated withthe shipment and scheduling information. The shipment data linkcooperates with the system interface as commanded by the user to accessand retrieve the associated shipment and scheduling informationcontained in the shipment data repository. The shipment planner is thendisplayed to the user in a calendar format, such that the interactiveshipment data link is provided on the shipment event date associatedwith the shipment and scheduling information.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the methodincludes the step of providing a plurality of interactive shipment datalinks associated with at least one of an inbound shipment, an outboundshipment, and a third party shipment.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, themethod includes the step of color-coding the plurality of interactiveshipment data links to readily distinguish between inbound, outbound,and third party shipments.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, themethod includes the step of providing a legend for indicating thecolor-code for each inbound shipment, outbound shipment, and third partyshipment.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, themethod includes the step of creating a personal event data repositorycontaining personal event information of the user, the personal eventinformation being associated with a personal event date.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, themethod includes the step of electronically associating an interactivepersonal event data link with the personal event information of theuser. The personal event data link cooperates with the system interfaceas commanded by the user to access and retrieve the associated personalevent information contained in the personal event data repository.

In yet another embodiment, the invention is a computer readable memorymedium, encoded with data representing a computer program, that can beused by a computer system to direct the computer system to execute amethod for electronically presenting shipment and scheduling informationto a user. The shipment and scheduling information includes at least oneshipment event date. The medium includes a system interfacecommunicating with a shipment data repository containing shipment andscheduling information. An interactive shipment data link iselectronically associated with the shipment and scheduling information,and cooperates with the system interface as commanded by the user toaccess and retrieve the associated shipment and scheduling informationcontained in the shipment data repository. A calendar display interfacedisplays a calendar format, such that the interactive shipment data linkis provided on the shipment event date associated with the shipment andscheduling information.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the memorymedium includes a plurality of interactive shipment data linksassociated with at least one of an inbound shipment, an outboundshipment, and a third party shipment.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, thememory medium includes a display options data interface communicatingwith a display options data repository for selecting desired profileparameters contained in the display options data repository.

According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, thememory medium includes a report data interface communicating with areport data repository for selecting desired profile parameterscontained in the report data repository.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the memorymedium includes an interactive personal event data link which iselectronically associated with personal event information of the user,and which cooperates with the system interface as commanded by the userto access and retrieve the associated personal event informationcontained in a personal event data repository.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Otherobjects and advantages of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the overall operation of anelectronic shipment planner according to one preferred embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a general schematic diagram showing communication of theclient interface with the system Web server;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of the calendar interface in a month displayformat;

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of the calendar interface in a day displayformat;

FIG. 5 is a screen shot of the calendar interface in a horizontal weekdisplay format;

FIG. 6 is a screen shot of the calendar interface in a vertical weekdisplay format;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the process for customizing thecalendar display format;

FIG. 8 is a screen shot of the user report data interface for creatingcustomized shipment reports based on parameters selected by the user;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating steps of the process for creatingthe customized shipment report;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flow diagrams illustrating further steps of theprocess for creating the customized shipment report;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating the process for adding a userevent to the shipment planner;

FIG. 13 is a screen shot of the user events interface;

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating the “onclick” process fordisplaying shipment and event information from the calendar interface;

FIG. 15 is a screen shot of a pop-up window providing shipment tracinginformation;

FIG. 16 is a pop-up window displayed when “mousing over” a shipmentreference code;

FIG. 17 is a pop-up window displayed when “mousing over” a user eventsreference code;

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram demonstrating the process for changing thedisplay of the calendar interface; and

FIG. 19 is a screen shot of the planner options interface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE

Referring now specifically to the drawings, an electronic shipmentplanner according to the present invention is illustrated in the flowdiagram of FIG. 1 and referenced generally at 10. The shipment planner10 is applicable for presenting shipment and scheduling information andpersonal events information to a user in a convenient, easy to read,interactive calendar display format. As indicated in FIG. 2, usersaccess the shipment planner 10 from a client interface 11 via anInternet service provider 12 and suitable communications equipment 14,such as a modem. The client interface 11 may be any application, such asa PC Web browser, which understands computer markup language, such asHTML and Dynamic-HTML. The shipment planner 10 is made available to theclient interface 11 from a system Web server 15 via Internet serviceprovider 16 and standard communications equipment 17. Data is suppliedto the shipment planner on or off site through the Internet. Accordingto one embodiment, users access the shipment planner 10 from aworkstation including a computer, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and modemconnection. The shipment planner 10 provides ready and convenient accessto shipment delivery and tracking information from any location in theworld, on any day of the week, and at any time of day.

Referring now to the flow diagram of FIG. 1, the shipment planner 10includes four data repositories 21, 22, 23, and 24, respectively: (1)“display options data”—contains display parameters used to customize howthe shipment planner is displayed to the user; (2) “user reportsdata”—contains report profiles which query the shipment data to createcustomized user reports; (3) “shipment data”—contains all shipment andscheduling information; (4) “user events data”—contains personal eventsinformation.

Display Options

Upon accessing the shipment planner 10 via the client interface 11,preprogramed default display parameters are retrieved from the displayoptions data repository 21. The display parameters define a calendarinterface 30, shown in FIGS. 3–6, in the form of a convenient,easy-to-read calendar. After the initial display, the user can readilymodify the format of the calendar interface 30 by selecting variouscustomization options indicated in the flow diagram of FIG. 7. Referringto FIG. 7, from the default screen shown in FIG. 3, the user chooses toview the calendar interface 30 in a desired screen format 32 includingeither a “normal” format which displays a page header and footer, or a“full screen” format which omits the page header and footer. In the fullscreen format, the user can further elect to set the display width basedon the screen width or on a preprogramed default parameter. The userthen chooses to view the accessed shipment data and personal eventsinformation in either a month, day, or week display format, 33, 34, and35, respectively. The default setting shown in FIG. 3 illustrates amonth display format 33. FIG. 4 illustrates a day display format 34. Theweek display 35, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, can be viewed in either ahorizontal or a vertical format, 36 and 37, respectively.

User Report Data

Referring to FIGS. 8–11, customized profiles are created using a reportdata interface 40. The user reports are titled by the user forsubsequent retrieval, and are stored in the user reports data repository22. The user may choose to create a report based on numerous options,including: the shipment delivery status 41 (delivered, undelivered,delayed, delivered with an exception); the payment status 42 (paid,unpaid, overdue); the paying party 43 (collect or prepaid); daterestrictions 44 (pickup, due, appointment, delivery); past or futuredate time frame 45 and 46 (yesterday, tomorrow, last week, next week,last # of days, next # of days, week-to-date, month-to-date, daterange); inbound options 47 (origin state, origin zip code, shipperlocation, shipper state, shipper zip code, shipper serving station);outbound options 48 (destination state, destination zip code, consigneelocation, consignee state, consignee zip code, consignee servingstation); and third party options 49 (paying location, origin state,origin zip code, origin station, destination state, destination zipcode, destination station).

As shown in FIG. 9, to create a customized report, the user firstselects the shipment status 41 for desired shipments to be retrieved inthe report. The user chooses between delivered shipments, delayedshipments, undelivered shipments, shipments delivered with exception, orshipments of any status. After this selection, the user then chooses theshipment payment status 42 for shipments which are either paid, unpaid,overdue, or of any payment status. The user then selects the payingparty 43 choosing between shipments which are either prepaid by thepaying party, or those which require collection from the paying party.

Shipment date restrictions 44 are selected, as indicated in FIG. 10. Theuser first selects the shipment date type—either the pickup date, thedelivery date, the due date, or the appointment date. For pickup anddelivery date shipments, the user further selects a past date limit 45including yesterday, last week, a selected past number of days, lastweek-to-date, last month-to-date, or a specified date range. For duedate and appointment date shipments, the user further selects a futuredate limit 46 including tomorrow, next week, a selected number of daysin the future, or a specified future date range.

Referring to FIG. 11, after selecting the shipment date restrictions 44,the user selects inbound, outbound, and third party options, 47, 48, and49. The user starts with freight type options. For the inbound freightoption selections 47, the user chooses between select inbound freight,all inbound freight, and no inbound freight. Select inbound freightincludes one or more of the origin states, origin zip codes, destinationlocations, destination states, destination zip codes, and destinationserving station. Next, the user makes outbound freight optionsselections 48. For select outbound freight, the user chooses one or moreof the destination states, destination zip codes, origin locations,origin states, origin zip codes, and origin serving station. Finally,the user makes third party freight option selections 49. For selectinbound freight, the user chooses one or more of the paying locations,origin states, origin zip codes, origin locations, destination states,destination zip codes, destination locations.

Shipment Data

Shipment data is entered into the electronic shipment data repository 23which can be updated at any time by authorized field and general officepersonnel via electronic data interchange (EDI) or the Internet.Preferably, shipment data is entered into the repository at the time aservice center receives a shipper's bill of lading. The customized userreports, described above, operate to electronically filter the shipmentdata contained in the shipment data repository to provide only theselected information requested by the user.

Personal Events

Referring now to the flow diagram of FIG. 12, mouse-clicking on the “AddEvent” icon 50 displayed in the calendar interface 30 allows the user toadd new personal events to the shipment planner 10. From a user eventsinterface 50, shown in FIG. 13, the user inputs the title of the event,a description of the event, the day of the event, the starting time, andthe ending time. Once this input is completed, the user then elects toclear, delete, save and apply, or cancel the event. Mouse-clicking onthe “Clear” icon 51 clears the event data from display and returns theuser to the events interface. Mouse-clicking on the “Delete” icon 52triggers a confirmation query 53 asking the user to confirm thedeletion. When confirmed, the event data is deleted and the user isreturned to the calendar interface 30. Mouse-clicking on the “Save &Apply” icon 54 saves the inputted event data in the user events datarepository 24, and transfers the user back to the calendar interface 30.Mouse-clicking on the “Cancel” icon 55 transfers the user directly tothe calendar interface 30 without saving the new events data. Previouslyentered events data is stored in the user events data repository 24.

Using the Shipment Planner 10

The user navigates the shipment planner 10 from his workstation usingthe attached mouse and a convenient point-and-click, menu-drivensoftware. Upon accessing the shipment planner 10, the selectedcustomized user report electronically filters the information containedin the shipment data repository 23, as described above, to display onlythe desired shipment data in the calendar interface 30. From thecalendar interface 30, the user can choose to view shipment andscheduling information or personal events data by mouse-clickingdirectly on a shipment data link 61 or a personal events link 62appearing on the screen (See FIGS. 3–6). The links 61 and 62 aredisplayed in the calendar interface 30 on certain days of the monthcorresponding to their respective event dates. In one embodiment, theshipment data link 61 is a shipment reference code, such as an internalsystem reference number, a bill of lading number, or a purchase ordernumber, which is associated with certain shipment data and schedulinginformation contained in the shipment data repository 23. When ashipment reference code is selected, the client interface 11 accessesthe associated shipment and scheduling information and downloads thisinformation for display to the user. The personal events data link 62 ispreferably a one or two word event title. When an event title isselected, the client interface 11 accesses the associated personalevents information contained in the user events data repository 24 anddownloads this information for display to the user.

For convenient viewing, the shipment reference codes and event titlesare preferably color-coded, as indicated in the legend 63, to readilydistinguish between inbound shipments, outbound shipments, third partyshipments, and personal events. For example, inbound shipments may bedesignated by the color blue, outbound shipments designated by red,third party shipments designated by green, and personal events designedby orange.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, using an “onclick process” 70 the usermouse-clicks directly on either a shipment data link 61 or personalevents data link 62 in the calendar interface 30, as previouslydescribed. Upon selecting a shipment data link 61, the client interface11 downloads the associated shipment data from the shipment datarepository 23 and a pop-up trace window 80, shown in FIG. 15, isdisplayed to the user. The trace window 80 provides detailed informationregarding the selected shipment, including its present location,shipment origin, destination, bill of lading number, purchase ordernumber, number of pieces, shipment weight, and the e-mail addresses ofthe origin and destination service centers. If a personal events datalink 62 is selected, the client interface 11 downloads the associatedevent data from the user events data repository 24. The selected eventinformation is then displayed, as shown in FIG. 13. This informationindicates the event title, a description of the event, the day of theevent, the event starting time, and the event ending time.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, from the calendar interface 30, theuser can further elect to view shipment data and events information forpreceding and succeeding calendar units by mouse-clicking on the“Previous” and “Next” icons, 81 and 82, respectively. The “Refresh” icon83 reloads the calendar interface. By “mousing-over” 84 (withoutclicking) shipment reference code and event titles displayed in thecalendar interface 30, respective pop-up windows 85 and 86 provide abrief summary of the shipment status, as shown in FIG. 16, and thepersonal event, as shown in FIG. 17. The shipment summary includes aninternal system reference number, a purchase order number, a concisestatus statement, and the name of the person signing the delivery. Theevent summary includes the title of the event, a brief description, andthe duration of the event.

Changing the Calendar Interface 30

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, from the calendar interface 30, the usercan select the “Options”, icon 90 to change the default shipmentreference codes which appear on the calendar interface 30 upon accessingthe shipment planner 10, and the actual dates upon which the shipmentreference codes are posted. In order to change the default settings, theclient interface 11 accesses both the display options data repository 21to display the current options selected, and the user reports datarepository 22 to display the available shipment reports.

A planner options interface 100, shown in FIG. 19, allows the user tocustomize the appearance of the calendar interface 30 by first selectingwhich shipment report to access. Preferably, a drop-down window displaysall previously entered reports stored in the user reports datarepository for convenient selection by the user. After selecting thedesired report, the user then chooses whether to display one or more ofinbound, outbound, or third party shipments contained in the report, andwhether the shipments will be displayed to the calendar interface oneither the due or delivery date, or the shipment date. The shipmentreference code to be displayed is then selected from either a purchaseorder number, a bill of lading number, or an internal system referencenumber. The user then selects a default display by month, day, or weekwith a further option to display the calendar interface without headerand footer, or to expand the calendar interface to screen size based onthe user's monitor. Finally, the user elects to started the display witheither the current date or the date of the first active shipment. Forthe week display, the user can further elect a horizontal format (SeeFIG. 5) or a vertical format (See FIG. 6). Once the report dataselections are completed, the user can either save the selections andreturn to the calendar interface, or cancel the selections.

An electronic shipment planner is described above. Various details ofthe invention may be changed without departing from its scope.Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention and the best mode for practicing the invention areprovided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose oflimitation—the invention being defined by the claims.

1. An electronic shipment planner adapted for electronically presentingshipment and scheduling information to a user, the shipment andscheduling information including at least one shipment event date, saidshipment planner comprising: a shipment data repository containingshipment and scheduling information for inbound freight, outboundfreight, and third party freight; a system interface communicating withsaid shipment data repository; a calendar display interface fordisplaying said shipment planner to the user in a calendar format, saidcalendar format comprising a tabular register of days; a plurality ofinteractive shipment data links contained within certain days displayedin said calendar display interface, and electronically associated withthe shipment and scheduling information, said plurality of shipment datalinks cooperating with said system interface as commanded by the user toaccess and retrieve the associated shipment and scheduling informationcontained in said shipment data repository, and said plurality ofshipment data links comprising: a plurality of inbound freight datalinks for accessing and retrieving associated inbound freightinformation from said shipment data repository; a plurality of outboundfreight data links for accessing and retrieving associated outboundfreight information from said shipment data repository; a plurality ofthird party freight data links for accessing and retrieving associatedthird party freight information from said shipment data repository; saidcalendar display interface further comprising a first data code visuallydistinguishing all of said inbound freight data links contained withinsaid tabular register of days, a second data code visuallydistinguishing all of said outbound freight data links contained withinsaid tabular register of days, and a third data code visuallydistinguishing all of said third party freight data links containedwithin said tabular register of days; whereby said shipment plannerdefines an interactive visual reference adapted to manage and trackshipments.
 2. An electronic shipment planner according to claim 1, andcomprising shipment data input means communicating with said shipmentdata repository for loading shipment and scheduling information intosaid shipment data repository.
 3. An electronic shipment planneraccording to claim 1, wherein said system interface comprises a Webbrowser.
 4. An electronic shipment planner according to claim 1, whereinat least one of said shipment data links comprises a predeterminedportion of the shipment and scheduling information.
 5. An electronicshipment planner according to claim 1, wherein at least one of saidshipment data links comprises a shipment reference code.
 6. Anelectronic shipment planner according to claim 5, wherein said shipmentreference code is selected from the group consisting of a bill of ladingnumber and a purchase order number.
 7. An electronic shipment planneraccording to claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third data codescomprise color-coding to readily distinguish between inbound, outbound,and third party shipments.
 8. An electronic shipment planner accordingto claim 7, and comprising a legend for indicating the color-code foreach inbound shipment, outbound shipment, and third party shipment. 9.An electronic shipment planner according to claim 1, and comprising adisplay options data repository containing format parameters forcustomizing the format of said calendar display interface.
 10. Anelectronic shipment planner according to claim 9, and comprising adisplay options data interface communicating with said display optionsdata repository for setting desired format parameters contained in saiddisplay options data repository.
 11. An electronic shipment planneraccording to claim 1, and comprising an input device for selecting saidinteractive shipment data link from said calendar display interface. 12.An electronic shipment planner according to claim 11, wherein said inputdevice comprises a computer mouse.
 13. An electronic shipment planneraccording to claim 1, and comprising a report data repository containingprofile parameters for displaying the shipment and schedulinginformation in a customized user report.
 14. An electronic shipmentplanner according to claim 13, and comprising a report data interfacecommunicating with said report data repository for setting desiredprofile parameters contained in said report data repository.
 15. Anelectronic shipment planner according to claim 1, and comprising apersonal event data repository containing personal event information ofthe user, the personal event information being associated with apersonal event date.
 16. An electronic shipment planner according toclaim 15, and comprising a personal event data interface communicatingwith said personal event data repository for loading personal eventinformation into said personal event data repository.
 17. An electronicshipment planner according to claim 16, and comprising an interactivepersonal event data link electronically associated with the personalevent information, and cooperating with said system interface ascommanded by the user to access and retrieve the associated personalevent information contained in said personal event data repository. 18.An electronic shipment planner according to claim 17, wherein saidpersonal event data link comprises a predetermined portion of thepersonal event information.
 19. An electronic shipment planner accordingto claim 17, wherein said personal event data link comprises a title ofthe personal event information.
 20. An electronic shipment planneradapted for electronically presenting shipment and schedulinginformation to a user, the shipment and scheduling information includingat least one event date, said shipment planner comprising: a shipmentdata repository containing shipment and scheduling information forinbound freight, outbound freight, and third party freight; a systeminterface communicating with said shipment data repository; a calendardisplay interface for displaying said shipment planner to the user in acalendar format, said calendar format comprising a tabular register ofdays; a plurality of interactive shipment data links contained withincertain days displayed in said calendar display interface, andelectronically associated with the shipment and scheduling information,said plurality of shipment data links cooperating with said systeminterface as commanded by the user to access and retrieve the associatedshipment and scheduling information contained in said shipment datarepository, and said plurality of shipment data links comprising: aplurality of inbound freight data links for accessing and retrievingassociated inbound freight information from said shipment datarepository; a plurality of outbound freight data links for accessing andretrieving associated outbound freight information from said shipmentdata repository; a plurality of third party freight data links foraccessing and retrieving associated third party freight information fromsaid shipment data repository; a personal event data repositorycontaining personal event information of the user, the personal eventinformation being associated with a personal event date; a plurality ofinteractive personal event data links contained within certain daysdisplayed in said calendar display interface, and electronicallyassociated with the personal event information of the user, saidplurality of personal event data links cooperating with said systeminterface as commanded by the user to access and retrieve the associatedpersonal event information contained in said personal event datarepository; said calendar display interface further comprising a firstdata code visually distinguishing all of said inbound freight data linkscontained within said tabular register of days, a second data codevisually distinguishing all of said outbound freight data linkscontained within said tabular register of days, a third data codevisually distinguishing all of the said third party freight data linkscontained within said tabular register of days, and fourth data codevisually distinguishing all of said personal event data links containedwithin said tabular register of days; whereby said shipment plannerdefines an interactive visual reference to manage and track shipments; alegend for indicating the data code for each of said shipment data andpersonal event data links.
 21. An electronic shipment planner accordingto claim 20, and comprising a personal event data interfacecommunicating with said personal event data repository for loadingpersonal event information into said personal event data repository. 22.An electronic shipment planner according to claim 20, wherein at leastone of said shipment data links comprises a shipment reference code. 23.An electronic shipment planner according to claim 21, wherein saidshipment reference code is selected from the group consisting of a billof lading number and a purchase order number.
 24. An electronic shipmentplanner according to claim 20, wherein at least one of said personalevent data links comprises a predetermined portion of the personal eventinformation.
 25. An electronic shipment planner according to claim 20,wherein at least one of said personal event data links comprises a titleof the personal event information.
 26. An electronic shipment planneraccording to claim 20, and comprising a display options data repositorycontaining format parameters for customizing the format of said calendardisplay interface.
 27. An electronic shipment planner according to claim20, and comprising a report data repository containing profileparameters for displaying the shipment and scheduling information in acustomized user report.
 28. An electronic shipment planner according toclaim 27, and comprising a report data interface communicating with saidreport data repository for selecting desired profile parameterscontained in said report data repository.
 29. A computer readable memorymedium, encoded with data representing a computer program, that can beused by a computer system to direct the computer system to execute amethod for electronically presenting shipment and scheduling informationto a user, the shipment and scheduling information including at leastone shipment event date, the medium comprising: a system interfacecommunicating with a shipment data repository containing shipment andscheduling information; a calendar display interface for displayingshipment and scheduling information to the user in a calendar format,said calendar format comprising a tabular register of days; a pluralityof interactive shipment data links contained within certain daysdisplayed in said calendar display interface, and electronicallyassociated with the shipment and scheduling information, said pluralityof shipment data links cooperating with said system interface ascommanded by the user to access and retrieve the associated shipment andscheduling information contained in said shipment data repository, andsaid plurality of shipment data links comprising: a plurality of inboundfreight data links for accessing and retrieving associated inboundfreight information from said shipment data repository; a plurality ofoutbound freight data links for accessing and retrieving associatedoutbound freight information from said shipment data repository; aplurality of third party freight data links for accessing and retrievingassociated third party freight information from said shipment datarepository; said calendar display interface further comprising a firstdata code visually distinguishing all of said inbound freight data linkscontained within said tabular register of days, a second data codevisually distinguishing all of said outbound freight data linkscontained within said tabular register of days, and a third data codevisually distinguishing all of said third party freight data linkscontained within said tabular register of days; whereby said shipmentplanner defines an interactive visual reference adapted to manage andtrack shipments.
 30. A computer readable memory medium according toclaim 29, and comprising a display options data interface communicatingwith a display options data repository for selecting desired formatparameters contained in said display options data repository.
 31. Acomputer readable memory medium according to claim 29, and comprising areport data interface communicating with a report data repository forselecting desired profile parameters contained in said report datarepository.
 32. A computer readable memory medium according to claim 29,and comprising an interactive personal event data link electronicallyassociated with personal event information of the user, and cooperatingwith said system interface as commanded by the user to access andretrieve the associated personal event information contained in apersonal event data repository.